Novak Djokovic made swift progress through to the fourth round of the Sony Open in Miami after dispatching Somdev Devvarman for the loss of six games.

Djokovic, who started the year by retaining his Australian Open crown in Melbourne, was too strong for the Indian, who did not possess the tools to trouble the world number one.

Djokovic broke in the opening game and again for 5-2 before claiming the opening set.

Easy work: Novak Djokovic lost just six games on the way to beating Somdey Devvarman

Djokovic

Devvarman refused to throw in the towel but he was powerless to prevent Djokovic from claiming a further break in the second on his way to a 6-2 6-4 win in 69 minutes.

The Serbian has lost just one match in 2013, to Juan Martin Del Potro in Indian Wells, and he will look to maintain that impressive statistic against Tommy Haas in the last 16.

Veteran German Haas, seeded 15, today edged out Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 6-2.
David Ferrer had few alarms in advancing, beating Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1 7-5, and the third seed will next meet Japanese Kei Nishikori.

Nishikori took advantage of opponent Xavier Malisse struggling with his string tension as he moved through 6-2 7-5.

Seventh seed Janko Tipsarevic progressed after gutsing out a three-set win over big-serving South African Kevin Anderson.

Anderson claimed the opener but the match drifted firmly in Tipsarevic's direction when he won the second on a tie-break and he ran through the decider to go through 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-0.

Not like you need the help, Novak! Djokovic put on a show at half-time of the Miami Heat match

On top: The World No 1 took just 69 minutes to take care of the Indian Devvarman

In the other completed third-round clash, 11th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon beat Grega Zemlja 6-4 6-4. He will play Tipsarevic next.

On the women's side, third seed Maria Sharapova ousted fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-2 despite facing nine break points.

Sharapova will meet Klara Zakopalova in the fourth round following her 6-2 7-6 (7/4) win over Maria Kirilenko.

Sixth seed Angelique Kerber and 11th seed Nadia Petrova went out, however.
Kerber was thrashed 6-4 6-0 by Sorana Cirstea while Petrova lost 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 to Jelena Jankovic.

No answer: Devvarman couldn't handle Djokovic

It will take a rearguard action every bit as great as those that defied South Africa at Centurion and Cape Town and Australia in Cardiff – and even New Zealand in Dunedin - if England are to avoid one of their most unlikely and embarrassing defeats in modern memory tomorrow here at Eden Park.

They will go into the final day of a series they were expected to dominate at 90 for four, still needing a theoretical 391 to win, after suffering the crushing blow of losing captain Alastair Cook for 43 just 27 balls from the close and then nightwatchman Steven Finn to what became the very last ball.

With the captain, and then the man who had held up New Zealand in the first Test, went much of England's hopes of defying a Black Caps team who have exceeded the expectations of all but their most fanatical followers by outplaying their highly ranked visitors in every department in this decisive final Test.

It is worth remembering that New Zealand, the eighth-ranked Test team in the world, lost seven of their previous eight Tests before this series and had an internal crisis over Ross Taylor's removal as captain every bit as damaging as the Kevin Pietersen affair.

Yet tomorrow they really should wrap up only their fourth Test series triumph ever over England and their first against anybody other than Zimbabwe and Bangladesh since 2006 when they defeated West Indies. Yes, you could say this would be quite an upset.

England may yet put a spanner in the works of New Zealand's celebrations but even if they somehow get out of their last assignment of a long, tough winter with a draw they will have to take a long, hard look at how it could possibly have come to this.

The first session today summed up the Test and the whole sorry series for England. They were dreadful. They lacked ideas, imagination and, frankly, leadership as New Zealand moved into a position from where history tells you they cannot possibly lose this Test.

The big one: England captain Alastair Cook leaves the field after scoring 43 during day four of the third Test

Close catchers: Alastair Cook bats as his Kiwi counterpart McCullum deploys his men around the bat

Bad Trott: England's No 3 traipses off after being caught behind chasing a wide one in the evening session

Nick's nicked one: England's Compton (right) heads for the pavilion after being caught by New Zealand's wicketkeeper BJ Watling for two

The day was started by Stuart Broad giving a spiky, defensive interview to Sky in which he barely accepted that England's attack had been outbowled by New Zealand's unsung bowlers - which they emphatically have - and went rapidly downhill from there.

So bad were England before lunch that New Zealand, who began the day at 35 for three and under a smidgeon of pressure, were able to score freely and aggressively to rack up 141 in the session for the loss of just Dean Brownlie. It was witless, hopeless cricket from England notable for the petulance of Broad in berating his fielders and the apparent lack of anything resembling tactical nous.

The biggest recipient of England's largesse, in every sense, was Peter Fulton, a cricketing journeyman who was expected to be little more than a walking wicket in this series returning to the side after a four-year absence. Instead he today became only the fourth New Zealander, after Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth and Andrew Jones, to score two centuries in a Test.

Job well done: Brendon McCullum applauds his team-mates at the close of a very successful day for the hosts

 

Double up: Fulton is applauded off on the day he completed his second century of the Test match

New Zealand started the fourth day with a lead of 274 but by the time Fulton and Brendon McCullum, taking yet another half century off England, had completed their stand of 117 in just 16.5 overs the Test was out of the tourists' reach in all but a remote mathematical sense.

Monty Panesar, who had started the day by taking Brownlie's wicket to an excellent catch from Ian Bell and bowled four maidens on the trot, was then destroyed to the tune of 52 runs in his next five overs.

Fulton, vulnerable outside off-stump, was allowed to indulge his love of the leg side again, seemingly despatching Panesar over the short straight boundary here at will.

Centurion: Fulton celebrates his mean feat with a simple wave of the bat to the sparse Auckland crowd

Proud parents: Wendy and Gordon Fulton watch their son Peter score a century on day four

It was when Fulton brought up his hundred with another straight six, this time off Broad, that the game really was up for England. McCullum, a combative purposeful cricketer who has thoroughly vindicated his controversial elevation above Taylor by out-captaining Cook in this series, delayed his declaration possibly longer than he needed to but still set his opponents a near impossible 481 to win.

As no team has ever successfully chased more than the 418 West Indies achieved against Australia in Antigua in 2002-03 – and England have never got higher than the 332 they made against Australia in Melbourne in 1928-29 to win a Test – this was something of a tall order.

It was quickly made worse when Nick Compton, who came into this match with successive centuries, fell cheaply for the second time in the match and then could have been made terminal when Cook was dropped by a diving wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Tim Southee on one.

Down and out: Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Hamish Rutherford celebrate taking Cook's wicket

 

It looked like it could prove a hugely costly drop but when Jonathan Trott was out, uncharacteristically, driving at a wide one from Neil Wagner, and then Cook was snaffled by a smart Brownlie slip catch off Kane Williamson England were in big trouble.

Bell and nightwatchman Steven Finn looked like they would survive to the close before Finn was caught at gully from the first ball of the last over. It is all down to Bell and the young Yorkshiremen Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow if England are to have any hope tomorrow.

Then, whether they manage to hold on or not, it will be time for some soul-searching before not only the return series against New Zealand in England in May but 10 back-to-back Ashes Tests.

Top effort: Ian Bell pouches Brownlie's skier (left) and celebrates with his team-mates (right)

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Australia's preparations for back-to-back Ashes series took another disastrous turn for the worse as four of their squad were dropped for the third Test against India after 'breaching team protocol'.

Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja have all been axed for failing to give a presentation to coach Mickey Arthur and the rest of the team on how they could improve following their embarrassing innings defeat in the second Test last week.

There appears to be plenty of sub-text behind the incident, though, with Arthur describing it as 'a line in the sand' moment for the squad.

Farcical: Shane Watson (left) and Mitchell Johnson (right) were dropped for the third Test against India after 'breaching team protocol' when they reportedly failed to give a presentation to coach Mickey Arthur

Out: Batsman Usman Khawaja was also dropped for the third Test in Mohali

All the other members of the group are understood to have completed the exercise, which required three points to be given on the current state of affairs by email or in person.

Australia are 2-0 down in the four-Test series after emphatic defeats in both Chennai and Hyderabad and need to win the final two Tests in Mohali and Delhi to force a draw.

With ten Ashes Tests to be played this year the latest news of turmoil in the Australia camp will be welcomed by England supporters.

Coach Arthur explained: 'After Hyderabad the whole team was really hurting, we were discussing ways of getting back into the series.

'We were particularly aware of where we were as a team and how we were going to get back. I asked the players at the end of the game to give me an individual presentation. I wanted three points from each of them technically, mentally and team as to how we were going to get back over the next couple of games, how we were going to get ourselves back into the series.

'Unfortunately four players didn't comply with that. We pride ourselves on attitude. We have given the players a huge amount of latitude to get culture and attitude right.

'We believe that those behaviours with what we want to do with this team, how we want to take this team to be the best in the world, teams that are the best in the world have best attitudes and best behaviour patterns and a good, hard, ruthless culture.

'I believe those four players unfortunately did not meet my requirements so those four are not available for selection for this Test match.

'That's a line-in-the-sand moment. We have given these guys absolute clarity. We have given this team a huge amount of time to buy in with what we want to do for the Australian cricket team.

'We have given a vision to these guys that is spelt out. We've given an expectation that is spelt out and although this incident might seem very small in isolation this is a line-in-the-sand moment for us as a unit in our quest to become the best in the world.'

Backs to the wall: Mickey Arthur's (centre) Australian team are 2-0 down in their four-Test series in India

He added: 'I think the best thing that these three days off have given me is reflection time, to reflect on how well have I been going in my job, like I expect everyone else to do when you're 2-0 down in the series.

'Myself and Pup (Captain Michael Clarke) came to the conclusion that we have been so focused on winning cricket games that maybe some people have been cutting corners. Perhaps there have been some soft options taken.

'We decided that we needed to really get that in line.'

Manny Pacquiao gives straight answers even after he’s  been knocked cold in the upset of the new century, as he was by his perennial rival Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night.

‘I’m open to a fifth fight between us,’ said the PacMan once he had regained consciousness. ‘Why not fight again?’

Why not, indeed, when the early returns from the fourth edition of this saga suggest gross takings of $85 million. Why not, now that this knock-out with one second remaining in the sixth round has almost certainly put paid to the even richer prospect of a dream fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Knockout blow: Marquez celebrates after stopping Pacquiao in the sixth round

The question which remains unanswered, however, is exactly how Senor Marquez, at the grand sporting age of 39, has developed a physique like the Incredible Hulk and nuclear power in his right fist.

If the world were as simple as when we were starry-eyed kids, we would have awoken with an almighty hangover yesterday morning after joining thousands of Mexicans in their tequila-soaked celebrations here.

Instead we are walking gingerly on egg shells.

Stunning shot: Marquez lands the bout-winning right hand in the sixth

Knockout blow: Marquez lands the bout-winning right hand in the sixth

The world is not so simple when the victor of what might well be voted the Fight of the Year has to keep denying that his body-building transformation has been achieved with the help of performance enhancing drugs.

Marquez puts it down to incredibly hard work. We hear him but we also know that his physical conditioner is the man who confessed to supplying steroids to shamed US Olympic athletes Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.

It feels horribly churlish to withhold unqualified praise for Marquez’s achievement in flattening, at the fourth attempt, the Filipino idol who went into this tumultuous weekend as one of the two best pound-for-pound fighters  in the world. But if you hire as your dietician Angel Heredia – or whatever he calls himself at the moment – you must know that you will invite suspicion.

The PacMan: Pacquiao makes his way out to the ring

 

Everyone was dancing around the issue once Pacquiao was back on his feet and en route  to hospital for precautionary tests.

His master trainer Freddie Roach has raised questions previiously, but, more diplomatically, said: ‘His body has developed as he gets older and he’s punching harder. His power has improved and he hurt Manny a lot more with his right hand  than in the past fights.’

That much was obvious for all to see as Pacquiao was decked in the second round before being knocked head-first into oblivion at the end of the sixth. His wife Jinkee was in weeping distress at the sight of her husband lying prostrate under a rope but once her husband had been revived he consoled her on his way to congratulating Marquez.

He remains a gentleman in defeat – and arguably still the greater  boxer than Marquez even though the clear and decisive outcome which both sought in this re-re-re-match went to his nemesis, not himself.

Sighter: Pacquiao lands a left in the first round

Smiles better: Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (right) was in the crowd

Pacquiao, with his crisp right jabs, in-and-out attacks and whiplash lefts controlled this fight with the exception of taking those two huge blows. He recovered from his first knock down to dump  Marquez on the seat of his pants in the fifth.

For the most part Pacquiao dominated from his quick-fire response to the first bell until that single second before it would have rung to end the sixth.

Marquez, his nose broken and his face lacerated, was on the brink of defeat when Pacquiao sensed a KO of his own, became over-excited and walked onto his opponent’s desperation punch.

‘We made one mistake and got knocked out just as we were about to win,’ said Roach. ‘It happens in boxing. But I didn’t see any signs of deterioration in Manny. When we get back in the gym I will advise him to retire if  I see bad things. But  I don’t expect that.’

On the charge: Marquez takes the attack to Pacquiao

Floored: Pacquiao hits the canvas after Marquez connects with a right in the third

 

 

Marquez was also showing signs of concussion when he returned to the dressing room and he, too, had to go to hospital.

With both men determined to bring their dispute to an abrupt and finite conclusion, promoter Bob Arum compared this  with the historic  battle between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns which is regarded as the greatest three rounds in ring history.

Arum is probably right in arguing that Mayweather-Pacaquiao could still be a $200 milllion pay-TV bonanza.  As he says: ‘Losing a fight, even by knock-out, is not death.’   The problem is that Mayweather now has the perfect excuse for declining to put at risk the unbeaten record he cherishes.  He did, after all, defeat the pre-muscular Marquez quite comfortably a couple of years ago.

Toe-to-toe: Both fighters were intent on attacking

Old acquaintances: The pair were meeting for the fourth time in their careers

Pacquiao-Marquez Five is another matter. The series continues to court the kind of controversy which, along with the intensity of the fighting, makes for good box office.

Marquez bitterly protested the results of their first three contests, a draw and two narrow decisions in favour of Pacquiao. Now he finds his  night of redemption clouded by insinuations of drug abuse.

That will bring a sense of unfairness crowding in on him which will seem as over-powering as the roaring support he had in the Grand Garden Arena.

False dawn: Marquez had a wobble in the fifth after a left jab from Pacquiao

 

This was the night which was supposed to resolve their personal dispute once and for all.
Rather, it begs the question of a fifth encounter.

One for which the preparations need to be  monitored, by wicked irony, by the Olympic standard blood testing which a certain Mr Mayweather is campaigning to make mandatory in boxing.

So when will it all end? The PacMan may have to answer that, too. Whenever he  decides to retire into politics full-time.

Job done: Marquez celebrates his victory